The meeting continued with Grant demanding medical updates, the Caldwell surname for the baby, and my return to the condominium. I agreed only to share significant pregnancy information and rejected every proposal that assumed my objection was merely about bedrooms or schedules. He even offered to move Aubrey into another apartment, still unable to understand that no new arrangement could restore what he had destroyed. When the meeting ended, he followed me into the hallway and revealed that Aubrey already knew about my pregnancy.
Grant admitted Aubrey had always known he was married, though he claimed he had described our marriage as nothing more than an arrangement. He tried again to blame my distance, and I reminded him that I had become distant only after he began lying. Then he whispered that he feared losing his daughter before she was even born, even though we did not know the baby’s sex. I told him he could still become a parent, but he was no longer entitled to remain my husband.
Grant noticed that I was still wearing my wedding ring and asked why. “Because grief does not follow paperwork,” I said before removing it and placing it in his palm. I told him the ring belonged to the marriage we had once shared, but that marriage was over. That evening, an unfamiliar number sent me a message: “This is Aubrey. I know you have every reason to hate me, but I need to speak with you.”
I read the message three times before another one appeared.
“Grant lied to me too.”
Part 5 is here! If you’ve made it this far, leave a or comment “YES” so I know you’re ready for the final part.
